My first underwater photography: Stingray.

[tim11]

... without getting my feet wet. I meant my subjects were underwater. :D :D
Taken at Sydney Aquarium (Darling Harbour).
Anyway, here are some stingrays. Exif all still intact, all taken at ISO1600. I don't want to use 3200. This little Fuji F30 is such a gem.

We were in a tunnel under all those fish.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_114aqua.jpg

A ray swimming gracefully.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_113stingray.jpg

From the rear.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_108stingray.jpg

That barb can kill. :eek:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_120stingray.jpg

Ghostly face.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_125.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_116stingray.jpg

See that again?
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_103stingray.jpg

Some of these buggers are huge - wing (??) span tip to tip almost 2 meters.

[Phill D]

Tim I like that first shot best. The shimmering light through the water really conveys an erie atmosphere, added to by the closeness of the people to the fish. I've walked through similar tunnels & had that same feeling. Couldn't get a shot though! as I only have the FZ20 and the shutter speed is always too slow to capture anything like that as I'm sure you know. It's interesting that you chose the F30 as a companion to the FZ it is something I am considering myself as a general family camera. I want to be able to get better indoor concert shots & wondered if the F30 was the way to go in the short term as the dslr choice is a bit too expensive for me at the moment. Could you comment on the F30 vs the FZ20 from your experience with both especially in terms of image sharpness & noise levels. Didn't mean to hyjack your thread with this question please start a new one with a specific reply if you want.

[tim11]

Thank you Phill D.
Great camera as FZ20 maybe, it's just not for such admosphere. If you checked exif data on those photos, you'd see all were taken at ISO1600 and at that, I was lucky to get 1/40s in most cases. I don't want to use ISO3200. Of course, flash doesn't come into equation. And the unpredictability of the moment, crowd jostling, murky water, dim light, reflection, you-name-it. Overall, I am happy with the success rate.
I can't be happier with F30 as side camera to FZ20. I doubt there is better one in the market at present. F30 has no IS, but at only 3x optical zoom I don't need it. Indoors? No problem. In fact, I admit I did underestimate F30. Slower focus than FZ20, but I can still use it long after sunset to shoot plants; etc. In my opinion, F30 produces more 'lively' colours. Image quality? Just look at those photos at ISO1600! Only at ISO800 that noise starts to appear on F30.
For concert, the only thing F30 lacks is the zooming power. There is also a thread in Fuji forum, Photos from F10, F11, F20, F30, F31fd (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24706), where you can find photos from average users. I will post some more photos including photos at lowlight in the coming days.

[tim11]

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_162shark.jpg

This reminds me of a B52 bomber.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_122shark.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_119shark.jpg

Exposure time: 0.250 s (1/4), Aperture: f/2.8, ISO equiv.: 1600
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_102shark.jpg

[tim11]

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_124turtle.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_043.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_065fish.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_158.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_152.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m116/tim11_2006/aquarium/061013_133.jpg

.... and CLICK HERE for more beautiful aquarium fish (http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showpost.php?p=166069&postcount=16).